Topic: If not a Jeep, then what?

[Mozman68]

Hmmm...I'm not sure I would question Jeffy on this one.

From Caterham's own website, it looks as though only the CSR model is available pre-assembled at the factory...all other models seem to have an option of assembled or unassembled.....

[Jeffy]

The Locost 7 and the Caterham 7 are the same car. They're both based on the Lotus 7. The difference is that you build a Locost 7 and you buy a Caterham 7.

What I'm saying is that you can build a Caterham 7 as well.  There are some other minor differences as well.  Neighbor has a classic, Caterham.

[Jeffy]

Hmmm...I'm not sure I would question Jeffy on this one.

From Caterham's own website, it looks as though only the CSR model is available pre-assembled at the factory...all other models seem to have an option of assembled or unassembled.....

I've looked into building one.     There are fewer dealers now although I'd rather see one national dealer then a bunch of shoe-string dealers like there was in the past.

[jfrabat]

What about a Factory Five GTM or their '65 coupe?  Not so expensive (well, not cheap, but you get the idea)...

[Jeffy]

You might as well go with a Lotus Evora as it will be more pleasant to drive and still pretty exotic while holding true to the lighter is better school.

[jfrabat]

You might as well go with a Lotus Evora as it will be more pleasant to drive and still pretty exotic while holding true to the lighter is better school.

Yeah, but it is not quite as cool as the GTM...  Plus, you get to build it yourself!  I do have to say, though, I like the Evora better than the Elise, but if I were to get a Lotus at all, I'd probably go with the Esprit (even though I hate the dash!); you can pick one up for under 10K (80's model, that is) and fix it up nicely for less than $20K including the cost of the car.  Or buy one in pretty good condition for around $25~30K (more than what I have down on the Jeep, still in the ballpark of what I have spent on the Jeep so far)

[Jeffy]

Yeah, but it is not quite as cool as the GTM...  Plus, you get to build it yourself!  I do have to say, though, I like the Evora better than the Elise, but if I were to get a Lotus at all, I'd probably go with the Esprit (even though I hate the dash!); you can pick one up for under 10K (80's model, that is) and fix it up nicely for less than $20K including the cost of the car.  Or buy one in pretty good condition for around $25~30K (more than what I have down on the Jeep, still in the ballpark of what I have spent on the Jeep so far)

"Plus, you get to build it yourself!"  That can be good and bad depending on who's building it. 

I like the Cobra Daytona clone but really can't see it being as fun as a real lightweight like a Caterham.  Then you get companies like Super 7 who put motorcycle engines into them.  Honda Blackbird or Suzuki Hayabusa engine with impressive results.  You get the high RPM scream like a Formula car and a sequential transmission.   

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/B25qE9WThzY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/B25qE9WThzY</a>

BTW: the Esprit was a crappy car.  Horrible transmission and expensive to maintain, which is why they are so cheap.  I'd rather buy a old 308B which is also expensive to maintain but a more iconic and impressive car.   

BTW: did you see this?

[stan98tj]

good stuff with the factory 5. i think id like to build a replica cobra one day. would be nice to find an original 427 cobra jet to throw in there but a 5.0 would be plenty of power for that little car. BTW, for those of you in cali...i read in popular mechanics a while back about a company that sells restored FJs, complete with a full off road package, lift, winch, larger tires etc, refreshed interior that balances the classic look with modern equipment..AND equips the FJs with some nice diesels (i think some were even bio diesels) to boot. Prices were around 100 grand though 

[Jeffy]

good stuff with the factory 5. i think id like to build a replica cobra one day. would be nice to find an original 427 cobra jet to throw in there but a 5.0 would be plenty of power for that little car. BTW, for those of you in cali...i read in popular mechanics a while back about a company that sells restored FJs, complete with a full off road package, lift, winch, larger tires etc, refreshed interior that balances the classic look with modern equipment..AND equips the FJs with some nice diesels (i think some were even bio diesels) to boot. Prices were around 100 grand though 

The company is called TLC and the rebuild is called the Icon.  They also make a CJ3B replica from all new parts as well.

[dwtaylorpdx]

I've worked on and drove several Lotus 7 clones, if you wear over size 10 shoes you may have issues.. 

But they are truly a blast.

Westfield is another option, its got more fiberglass.

Dave

[Sine Deviance]

Speaking of people getting cars...

Today, a friend of mine gave me (as in free of charge) a '94 Corolla DX wagon with the 1.8L 7A-FE (a.k.a. the good Corolla engine.) It has some light front body damage and needs a little TLC but it otherwise runs great. Drawback is, it's an automatic, but manual transmissions are cheap as chill and very easy to swap for these cars. Looks like I have another project car.

[chrisfranklin]

Might also consider a  low mileage Power Wagon, also. Not great for some trails, but not bad overall. 

If we're talking sports cars -- and I had the cash -- I'd probably buy an Ariel Atom kit with a top of the line engine, then have it shipped to and assembled in So Cal (that is, provided the build would clear CARB and could be set up legally for US roads).   

The Caterhams looks pretty good, too and probably drive great.

If I couldn't afford to go too exotic for sports-cars, then I'd probably say a late model Boxster S -- Boxsters in general get no respect for Porsche enthusiasts, but they are very well balanced and excellent driving.   Tough to do your own work on though. 

[dwtaylorpdx]

I like old Porches, Had a 69 911T was terribly fun, easy to work on and weighed nothing.
And except on the straights It was hard for anybody to catch me... ittly bitty 2 liter 6.

The later luxo box Porches lost something...

Dave

[DodgeMudder]

I'm going back to the originl topic of this and if I didn't have my Jeep (note even though I currently don't have a transmission in my Jeep I still wouldn't sell it have way too much into it to ever get out of it) or maybe even in addition to my Jeep, as I would like to make my Jeep more into a DD weekend wheeler that looks nice and build a better trail rig, I would go a completely different route than most of you, and buy a second gen Dakota Quad Cab, 318 5spd, and build a monster truggy and keep it streetable.  Would have either 609 axles or a set of portals 47" or larger tires, sitting as low as possible w/ lots of droop and little up travel to the suspension, boatsided, exo-caged, custom bed/cage, probubly running some kind of radius arm front suspension and a single link 1/4 eliptical rear.

I fully believe in the it's not what you buy it's what you build.

[Jeffy]

The subject was supposed to be if you didn't have your Jeep or you had to replace it with another 4x4 (given your current budget or how ever much your Jeep is worth) what would it be.